COLUMBIA, S.C. — A special story of courage and companionship. I visited the VA (Veterans Affairs, Wm. Jennings Bryan Dorn Hospital) to meet a local veteran who found a unique ally — his service dog.
Richard Parrilla was in the military for 24 years before he retired as a First Sergeant E8 at Fort Jackson, here in Columbia. He was later diagnosed with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). Parilla explains, “I knew that something was different about me, and so when I went to seek help from the VA, I knew that I had PTSD but I just didn't want to admit it.”
According to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, the occurrence of PTSD is higher among our veterans and even higher among those who were deployed.
Parilla says having his service dog, Patton, helps his recovery. “It gives me a sense of hope. It gives me a sense of, you know, being a part of something.”
Patton, a black lab, can sense when Parilla is stressed out, anxious, or having nightmare interruptions at night. “He’ll come to my lap and kind of tells me, 'Hey, you need to take a break',” Parilla says.
Parrilla worked with the organization America’s Vet Dogs to get his service animal, the process took about a year to complete. He mentions that there are a lot of requirements, but his bond with Patton was worth the effort. “It takes work, but if you want results, then a service dog is a great option to add to your recovery process.”
WLTX is grateful for all of our veterans and for the organizations that make these incredible partnerships possible. If you are a veteran or know a loved one that is struggling with symptoms of PTSD, the VA offers more than 200 PTSC treatment programs across the country. Learn more at va.gov